New Ulm weekly review., 1887-10-12

/ Our former townsman, Mr.. Ed. j
! Collins, has Joined the prophets. The
| Globe Of October 5th contains Wash
ington special which says; Edward j..
Collins, Of Brown county, Mimi, has
recently called my attention to a little
fact which is really worthy Of notice.
BE says: when / predicted that Min
nesota would go Democratic next year
and you wrote it up in an interview,
there was hullabaloo, because some
unknown fellow had made calculations
that the Republicans deemed wild. But
when Congressman Mcdonald makes
the'same prediction the papers in Wash
ingten, and out home too, quote the say
ing as one worthy Of consideration.
Now, / don't claim to be as good nor as
great as q congressman, and / didn't
make my calculation and prediction for
publication, but / claim that ] was
right, and that the result next year will
demonstrated it, too. l am glad that
Judge Macdonald agrees with me, and
if all the other Democrats in the state
agree with US, and will work earnestly
for the attainment Of that end, the state
will undoubtedly 60 Democratic by a
pronounced majority
Some members of the fire department
feel hurt at the remarks made by the
REVIEW in regard to the proposed pur-
chase of a steamer for the departments.
They seem to think that because the
REVIEW opposes the purchase Of q
steamer, that we are opposed to the de-
partment. In this they are clearly in
the wrong and by scanning the files Of
the REVIEW they will find that we have
never had any but words Of encourage
ment for this department. We realize
full well the Importance of having q
well trained and well equipped depart
ment, but we cannot see how the pur-
chase of a $4,000 steamer would do that.
Our city finances will not allow the
luxury Of paid department.. In order
to be of good service, steamer must
be ready at a moments notice and this
cannot be without having men and hors-
es with the same at all hours. The
purchase of a steamer would necessitate
the purchase of additional hose, extra
cisterns and cause any number Of minor
expenditures. A little over year ago
committee was appointed by the
council to investigate the advisability of
purchasing a steamer. The committee
consulted with chief Black of st. Paul.
The latter, who is recognized as one of
the best authorities on such matters,
advised the committee net to purchase
steamer, but if they wanted better ap-
paratus than the city possessed at that
time, they should purchase chemical,
but that, for general purposes in small
cities where they could not maintain an
expensive department, the ordinary
hand apparatus was the best. We are
aware Of the fact that the present ap-
paratus owned by the city is not what
it should be and are heartily in favor of
purchasing some better appliances for
fighting fire, but we cannot and
will not endorse the purchase of a steam.
er unless we are convinced that the city
can afford to expend at least $4,000 an
nually upon the fire department.
The money pinch which is being felt
everywhere in the country, but more
especially in the East, is also making
an impression in Europe. TheS:ate OF
interest has been advanced in London,
confessedly to stop the gold movement,
under. American influence mainly at
present. This came about both from
the depression Of exchange by discounts
against large producesexports and from
the relatively high rates Of interest in
New York, paying good arbitrage
against London rates, and from the
rather demoralized condition of secur-
tiles. Some millions of German capital
has also been brought into requisition
by the Willard deal in Northern Pacific.
Altogether, s4.30o,0oo foreign gold
came to New York last week. While
the Bank Of observation-disclosures to cork
up its gold reservoir by a 4 per cent.
rate of interest, the Bank of France adj
Yances the price of gold from seven to
nine centimes per 1000 francs, which
is reported to be the highest rate since
the suspension Of specie payment fol.
lowing the war with Germany.